Jokowi Emphasizes the Importance of Defense and Security Design at the Outermost Point of the Republic of Indonesia

Presiden Joko Widodo (kedua kiri) memberi keterangan di sela-sela kunjungan kerja di Kabupaten Maluku Barat Daya, Maluku, Kamis (15/9/2022). (ANTARA/HO-Biro Pers Sekretariat Presiden)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo stressed the importance of the design of state defense and security at the outermost points of Indonesia during a working visit to Southwest Maluku Regency, Maluku.

"The Southwest Maluku Regency is one of the outermost regencies in the east, the most southeast. We see the need for a design for state defense and security, at which point is the most appropriate", Jokowi said as reported by ANTARA, Thursday, September 15.

"This is important because indeed the potential that exists here needs to be seen in detail", he continued.

In his series of activities, Jokowi also invited Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Sakti Wahyu Trenggono, and Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) Minister Basuki Hadimuljono.

The President invited his staff to Tiakur Beach on Moa Island, Southwest Maluku, to see one of the outermost points of the Republic of Indonesia, namely Leti Island, which borders Timor Leste. Leti Island can be seen with the naked eye from Tiakur Beach.

"Today, I and the Minister of Defense, the Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, and the Minister of Public Works have looked at the points I mentioned earlier in the context of state defense and security once again", he said.

Meanwhile, Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto said that he had received orders from President Jokowi 2.5 years ago to make a major design for national defense.

The design also includes securing archipelagic sea lanes in Indonesia, which are the routes for 60 percent of world sea trade.

"Our wealth in this region is very, very large, not only fish wealth but also mineral wealth under the sea, gas, and oil under the sea", said the Minister of Defense.

According to the Minister of Defense, most of Indonesia's future wealth will be in eastern Indonesia. For this reason, the Minister of Defense emphasized that the outermost islands in the region must be designed to be part of the national defense.

"We have to design the outermost islands in this region to be part of our defense. Of course, we will do this carefully and involve all relevant institutions", Prabowo concluded.